CASCO — Camp Sunshine has received a four-star rating and the highest overall score among Maine charities for fiscal management, oversight and transparency from Charity Navigator, the nation’s leading charity evaluator.

Camp Sunshine is a national retreat in Casco, Maine, for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Charity Navigator each year conducts a data-driven analysis of financial information of nonprofit organizations across the nation to help donors determine which organizations to support.

This year marks Camp Sunshine’s third consecutive top four-star rating — a distinction achieved by only 10 percent of the charities evaluated by Charity Navigator.

“Camp Sunshine outperforms most other charities in America,” said Ken Berger, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Camp Sunshine from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

Camp Sunshine’s overall score topped a list of 12 Maine nonprofits that received Charity Navigator’s top four-star rating. Other Maine nonprofits achieving a four-star rating were Maine Community Foundation (Ellsworth), Environment Northeast (Rockport), Friends of Acadia (Bar Harbor), Preble Street (Portland), Bay Chamber Concerts (Rockport), Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor), Animal Welfare Society (West Kennebunk), Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (Salisbury Cove), Island Institute (Rockland), Maine Sea Coast Mission (Bar Harbor), and Bates College (Lewiston).

“Camp Sunshine is proud to have again earned this highest rating by Charity Navigator,” said Matthew Hoidal, executive director at Camp Sunshine. “Since our inception nearly 30 years ago, our board has always placed the highest value on fiscal responsibility and accountability in addition to the primary focus of maintaining a comfortable, safe environment for the children and families that we serve.”

Camp Sunshine operates year-round on the shores of Sebago Lake and provides week-long respites at no charge to children with lifethreatening illnesses and their families.

Camp Sunshine relies on donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to carry out its mission.

Charity Navigator evaluates 10 times more charities than its nearest competitor and attracts more visitors to its website than all other charity rating groups combined, according to Berger.

For more information about Camp Sunshine’s programs and to learn more about volunteering or making a donation, visit the camp’s website at www.campsunshine.org, or call 655-3800.